Missing Fourth of July hiker found in good health

BIG SKY – A 62-year-old hiker who was reported missing yesterday after failing to return from a July Fourth afternoon hike was spotted on a ridge top by a Search and Rescue helicopter at 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.

According to a press release from the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the hiker was found in good health and transported to a hospital to be evaluated by medical personnel.

Sergeant Brandon Kelly with the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said 58 people participated in the search effort, which included dogs and two helicopters.

The hiker, a Yellowstone Club visitor from California, was reported missing at 6:30 p.m. yesterday when she failed to return from her hike on the Cedar Loop Trail.

The hiker spent the night in the mountains—temperatures dipped to 45 degrees in Big Sky last night and were presumably lower at the hiker’s location.

“She’s being debriefed now,” Kelly said. “We’re still working on getting crews out of the mountains.”

Kelly said Gallatin County Search and Rescue personnel are being rerouted to a backcountry rescue in Sourdough Canyon south of Bozeman.